Flavanoid compounds and process for preparation thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to flavanoid compounds of general formula (X 1 ) wherein: R 1  is selected from a group consisting of morpholinyl, N-methyl piperizinyl, piperidinyl and N,N′-dimethylamino groups, and n ranges from 3 to 6, and process for preparation thereof. The present invention relates to the demonstration of anti  Helicobacter pylori  activity and gastric antisecretory activity of semisynthetically designed flavonoid compounds, to be used for the prevention and treatment of gastroduodenal disorders in general and peptic ulcer diseases in particular. The present invention also relates to a hetero-dimeric bi-functional molecule that can be used as monotherapy substituting/replacing/overcoming currently used triple/quadruple therapy, thereby implicating/anticipating/envisaging its commercial applicability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 13/203,702 filed Aug. 26, 2011, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,969,384; which is a 35 USC §371 National Stage application ofInternational Application No. PCT/IN2010/000117 filed Feb. 26, 2010;which claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(a) to India PatentApplication No. 381/DEL/2009 filed Feb. 27, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to flavonoid compounds and a process forpreparation thereof. The present invention relates to the demonstrationof anti Helicobacter pylori activity and gastric antisecretory activityof a semisynthetically designed flavonoid compounds, to be used for theprevention and treatment of gastroduodenal disorders in general andpeptic ulcer diseases in particular.

Background Information

The aetiopathology of peptic ulcer disease is best understood in termsof an imbalance between mucosal defense factors (bicarbonate, mucin,prostaglandin, nitric oxide, some peptides and growth factors) andaggressive factors (acid, pepsin and H. pylori). Peptic ulcers do notoccur when there is a balance between the aggressive factors and thedefensive factors, but when the attacking factors become stronger thannormal or when the defensive factors weaken, peptic ulcers can occur(Hoogerwerf and Pasricha, 2001).

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a ubiquitous, gram negative, highlymotile, S-shaped, microaerophilic bacterium which colonizes the humangastric mucosa for extended time period. H. pylori infection iswidespread with seroprevalence in the developed world between 30-60%(Everhart, 2000). Infection with the bacterium is usually contractedduring childhood and patients remain infected for life unless treated.H. pylori infection has been shown to result in the development ofchronic gastritis, gastro esophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and pepticulcer diseases including gastric and duodenal ulcers. It is also linkedto mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and gastricadenocarcinoma (Go, 2000).

The other major etiology of peptic ulcer diseases is hyperacidsecretion. For ulcers that are not caused by H. pylori, acid suppressivetherapy alone with antisecretory agents is recommended in the form ofH₂-receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors, besides simple use ofacid-neutralizing agents like antacids (Hoogerwerf and Pasricha, 2001).reflux

The eradication of the bacterium by triple therapies consisting of twoantibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor in infected patients hasresulted in good healing rates for both active gastritis and pepticulcer diseases (Graham et. al., 1992). However, rising prevalence ofacquired resistance of H. pylori to some antibiotics (Glupczynski etal., 2001), ulcer recurrence and the relatively high incidence of sideeffects (Wermeille et al., 2002) are the major causes for concern inrecent times. Strains resistant to clarithromycin (CLR) andmetronidazole (MNZ) have been well documented (Mégraud, 2004) whileresistance to amoxicillin (AMX) and tetracycline was mainly reported inAsian countries (Wu et al., 2000, Kwon et al., 2000). On the other hand,as far as the use of antisecretory agents H₂ receptor blockers andproton pump inhibitors are concerned, a number of side effects arereported. The adverse drug interaction of the cytochrome P450 systemwith H2-receptor blocker, hypersensitivity and damage of the liver byproton pump inhibitors, requirements of multiple doses of antacids toalleviate symptomatic-only relief, coupled with ulcer recurrenceproblems (Bullard, 1997) necessitate searching for better therapeuticmanagement of hypersecretory disorders.

Regarding the treatment of H. pylori infection, reference may be made toan U.S. patent (Borody, 1993) which described a method consisting of theadministration of a bismuth compound, an antibiotic belonging to thegroups of penicillin and tetracycline, and a second antibiotic, such asmetronidazole. The relevant therapy thus consists of the administrationof three medications several times a day. There are other patentsdescribing multiple therapies for the eradication of H. pylori, such asNeeman et al., 1995, 1996; Shell, 1996). None of these however eliminatethe need to administer complex medications.

As antisecretory agents, several patents disclose the use of diversemolecular structures like fumagillol (Yanai et al. 1998), diphenyl etherphosphate esters (Catrenich et al., 1995),heterocyclyl-phenyl-(sulfonyl- or phosphonyl)-amidines (Cereda et al.,1987), N-alkylated benzo- and hetero-fused compounds (Schiehser et al.,1986), N-aryl-N′-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-yl)ureas (Ramussen,1984), 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo-[4,5-c]-pyridine (Arcari et al., 1980),1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(1-ureido)-2-imidazolidinone (Schwan et al., 1978),1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazolo(4,3-d)pyrimidine-7(6H)-ones (Ratajczyk et al.,1976), 4-acetoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,2-dimethyl-6,7-methylenedioxyisoquinolinium iodide (Schwan et al., 1978), furan or thiophenederivatives of iminomethyl piperidine (Scott, 1986), andO-(carboxymethyl)-4-chromanone oxime (Wright et al., 1978).

Flavonoids, a class of polyphenols compounds, are present in many fruitsand vegetables and offer a large number of biological activities. Theantimicrobial activity of different types of flavonoids, either isolatedfrom different plants or their chemically modified analogues, have beenreported (Cushnie and Lamb, 2005). Anti peptic ulcer activity includinganti H. pylori activity of naturally occurring flavonoids have also beendocumented (Beil et al., 1995; Ohsaki et al., 1999; Fukai et al., 2002;Park et al., 2004).

Three U.S. patents have disclosed the use of flavone or flavanonecompounds for preventing or treating damages to the mucosal lining ofthe gastrointestinal tract (Ares et al., 1995; Yoo et al., 2000; Xu,2004) while a Chinese patent (CN1615947) has implicated the use offlavones for treating oral ulcer, gastric ulcer, burn, scald andtraumatic infection. A recent patent application from our group hasdisclosed the use of flavonoids for the treatment of gastrointestinaltoxicity, associated symptoms and ulcers (Rao et al., 2007).

A Japanese patent (JP11228407) and an U.S. patent (Higuchi et al., 2001)disclosed the use of flavones for increasing the activity of beta lactamantibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. An U.S.patent disclosed the use of biflavonoids in treating viral infection(Lin et al., 2002), while another U.S. patent disclosed the use of3-methylene flavanones and 3-methylene chromanones having activityagainst microorganisms (Buckler et al., 1980). The use of flavones asantibacterial agents exhibiting suppressing effect against indigenousdermatic bacteria has been disclosed in the patent JP62145017. Theantibacterial activity of an antibiotic flavone has also been disclosedin an US patent (Richards et al., 1972). Use of chrysin asantibacterial, antiviral and immunostimulatory agents has been patented(Markonius, 1995, 1999). Use of oroxylin A as inducible nitric oxidesynthase inhibitor, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor and potassium channelactivator has also been patented (Lee et al., 2004).

In view of the efforts towards searching for flavonoids which could beactive against antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains or which would notimpart resistance to otherwise susceptible strains (Xu and Lee, 2001;Iinuma et al., 1994; Liu et al., 2001), the inventors were interested indesigning, synthesizing and bioevaluating a series of chrysin andoroxylin A derivatives with a view to imparting both anti H. pylori aswell as antisecretory property in the flavone core structure.

Definition of the Abrreviations

-   -   ATP Adenosine triphosphate    -   AMX Amoxicillin    -   ATCC® American Type Culture Collection    -   BHI Brain Heart Infusion    -   CLSI® Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute    -   CFU Colony Forming Unit    -   CMD Cimetidine    -   CLR Clarithromycin    -   DENT® A trademark product of Becton-Dickinson (antibiotic        mixture)    -   DMSO Dimethyl sulfoxide    -   DCM Dichloromethane    -   DMF Dimethylformamide    -   EDC1 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodimide    -   FCS Feotal Calf Serum    -   GERD Gastro esophagus reflux disorders    -   HOBt N-Hydroxybenzo triazole    -   IC₅₀ value 50% inhibitory concentration    -   MIC Minimum inhibitory concentration    -   MBC Minimum bactericidal concentration    -   MIC range Covering MIC values against a panel of H pylori,        including standard strains and clinical isolates    -   MIC₅₀ value MIC values against 50% of the strain    -   MALT Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue    -   MNZ Metronidazole    -   OPZL Omeprazole    -   PIPES-Tris piperazine-N,N′-(2-ethane sulfonic acid) Tris salt    -   PC Parietal cell    -   TCA Trichloroacetic acid

Objective of the Invention

The main objective of the present invention is to provide novelflavonoid compounds and process for preparation thereof.

Another objective of the present invention is to develop compounds,which could be therapeutically safe and useful in treating peptic ulcerdiseases.

Another objective of the present invention is to design and develop suchsingle compound(s) that should possess both anti H. pylori activity aswell as gastric antisecretory activity so as to mitigate the two majoraetiopathologies of peptic ulcer diseases, namely, the bug and the acid,thereby reducing the requirement of triple/quadruple therapy currentlyin practice.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to impart H. pyloriinhibiting property and also gastric antisecretory property to a classof semi-synthetic flavonoids by structural modification of the sidechain of the natural compounds chrysin and oroxylin A, along withsimultaneously increasing the lipophilicity of the molecule, and bylinking with another natural product molecule.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide detailedexperimental evidence for anti H. pylori activity and gastricantisecretory activity in one designed molecule5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-4H-benzpyran-4-one or,5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-chromen-4-one or inshort, 7-O-(6-piperidin-1-ylhexyl)-chrysin (abbreviated in this documentas CPP-1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a flavonoid compound ofgeneral formula-X₁, wherein R₁ is selected from a group consisting ofmorpholinyl, N-methyl piperizinyl, piperidinyl and N,N′-dimethylaminogroups, and value of n is 3-6, or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the structure ofrepresentative compounds of

-   -   general formula X₁ comprising:

In an embodiment of the present invention the representative compoundscomprising:

-   -   (a)        5-Hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-chromen-4-one        (CPP-1)    -   (b)        5-Hydroxy-7-[6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-hexyloxy]-2-phenyl-chromen-4-one        (NMC-1)    -   (c)        5-Hydroxy-7-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propoxy]-2-phenyl-chromen-4-one        (NMC-2)    -   (d) 5-Hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(4-piperidin-1-yl-butoxy)-chromen-4-one        (CPP-3)

In an embodiment of the present invention, the pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt is any addition salt of an acid selected from chloride,sulphate, maleate, tartrate, phosphate and acetate.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the compounds are useful aspotential anti Helicobacter pylori as well as gastric antisecretoryagent which could be a monotherapy drug candidate for prevention andtreatment of peptic ulcer diseases.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, said compoundsshow bacteriostatic as well as bactericidal activity against clinical aswell as ATCC® standard strains of H. pylori.

In an embodiment of the present invention, said compounds are equallyeffective at acidic pH, the gastric lumen environmental pH where theseare supposed to act.

In an embodiment of the present invention, said compounds do not developresistance to several subcultures of H. pylori, in clinical strain orwith standard strain upon long term use.

In an embodiment of the present invention,5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-4H-benzpyran-4-one(CPP-1), has been demonstrated to induct irreversible morphologicaldeformation of H. pylori at its MIC/MBC dose range of 6.25-12.5 μg/mL,effectively kill the bacteria at pH ranging from 4-6 unlikeclarithromycin, and remain potentially active towards the bacteria uponrepeated exposure unlike metronidazole.

In an embodiment of the present invention, said compound,5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-4H-benzpyran-4-one(CPP-1), inhibits gastric H⁺ pump activity with an IC₅₀ value of 10 (±2)μg/mL.

In an embodiment of the present invention,5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-4H-benzpyran-4-one(CPP-1), inhibits acid hypersecretion in gastric parietal cells.

In an embodiment of the present invention,5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-4H-benzpyran-4-one(CPP-1), inhibits basal acid secretion in gastric parietal cells in adose-dependent manner with IC⁵⁰ value of 5 (±1) μg/mL.

In an embodiment of the present invention,5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-4H-benzpyran-4-one(CPP-1), inhibits histamine-stimulated acid secretion in gastricparietal cells in a dose-dependent manner with IC₅₀ value of 15 (±3)μg/mL.

Accordingly the present invention provides a process for preparation ofcompounds of general formula X₁, wherein the process steps comprising:

-   -   (a) reacting chrysin of formula I with 1,n-dibromoalkane (n=3        to 6) in presence of a base selected from the group consisting        of potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate and cesium carbonate in        a solvent selected from acetone and acetonitrile under nitrogen        atmosphere to afford 7-O-(n-bromoalkyl)chrysin of formula (III),

-   -   (b) reacting the compound (III) with an amine selected from a        group consisting of morpholine, N-methyl piperazine, piperidine,        N,N′-dimethyl amine in presence of a base selected from the        group consisting of potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate and        cesium carbonate in a solvent selected from anhydrous        acetonitrile and acetone under nitrogen atmosphere to afford the        desired compounds of formula X₁

Present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition fortreating or preventing H. pylori infection and gastric hypersecretion ina subject comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of the compoundof formula X₁ optionally along with one or more pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers, additives, lubricants and diluents, wherein theratio of the compound of general formula X₁ to the additives rangingfrom 1-10: 10-1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the carriers used areselected from the group consisting of proteins, carbohydrates, sugar,magnesium stearate, cellulose, calcium carbonate, starch-gelatin pasteand pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, diluents or solvents.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the composition to beadministered in human at a dose ranging between 20-60 mg twice per day.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the composition is useful fortreating or preventing H. pylori infection and gastric hypersecretionleading to management of peptic ulcer diseases, which include one ormore of the following disorders: gastric peptic ulcer, duodenal pepticulcer, chronic and acute gastritis, chronic and acute duodenitis,non-ulcer dyspepsia, gastro esophageal reflux disorders,mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma.

The present invention deals with the development of a designed molecule,5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-4H-benzpyran-4-one,that effectively kills the bacterium Helicobacter pylori as well asinhibits gastric hypersecretion, giving rise to an unique singlecompound therapy for the management of peptic ulcer diseases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TABLES AND DRAWINGS

Table 1a exhibits representative compounds of 7-O-alkylamino derivativeof chrysin (Formula X¹).

Table 1b shows representative compounds of 7-O-acyl derivative oforoxylin A (Formula X²).

The IUPAC name was obtained using AutoNom 1.0 add-in for ISIS draw fromMDL Information Systems, Inc.

Table 2 shows anti H. pylori activity of the compound analogues.

The discs were impregnated with 100 and 200 mg of each of the compounds,dissolved either in ethanol or DMSO, and the zone of inhibition wasmeasured after 72 h of growth under microaerophilic conditions at 37° C.Inhibition zone diameter ranging 10-20 mm was given a score of ⁺, 20-30mm as ⁺⁺ and that of >30 mm as ⁺⁺⁺, as obtained employing dose range of100 and 200 mg/disc. The detailed structural information of themolecules is provided under ‘Description of the Compounds’.

Table 3 shows anti H. pylori spectrum of the compounds, and Table 3asummarizes MIC range and MIC₅₀ values of such compounds.

MIC was determined using agar dilution assay following the CLSI®guidelines. Six clinical isolates and four standard strains were usedfor this study. Five microlitre of freshly grown 3-day old culture(˜1×10⁸ CFU/mL) was streaked in plates containing 2-fold serial dilutionof the compounds ranging 1.56-100 mg/mL, and incubated undermicroaerophilic condition at 37° C. After 72 h, the plates wereinspected visually for absence of growth to assess the MIC values. Theexperiment was performed in duplicates. MIC₅₀ is defined as the dose(μg/ml) required for killing 50% of the strains.

Table 4 exhibits MIC and MBC values of four most active compounds,determined by microbroth dilution method.

The compounds, serially diluted (3.125-100 mg/mL) in Muller Hinton brothcontaining 5% FCS, were incubated in 96-well microtitre plate containingfresh cultures of HP001 (˜5.5×10⁶ CFU/mL) or ATCC® 43504 (2.65×10⁶CFU/ml) in a final volume of 200 ml. After 72-h of incubation undermicroaerophilic condition at 37° C., 100 ml of cultures wherein nogrowth had been detected were streaked on fresh brain heart infusionagar plates for MBC determination.

Table 5 shows anti H. pylori activity evaluation of the spacer moleculesby disc diffusion sensitivity assay and microbroth dilution assay.

Methods and protocols for the determination of inhibition zone diameterare as stated under Experiment 1, and that of MIC values by microbrothdilution assay as in Experiment 3. ‘Nil’ means zone of inhibition below10 mm.

Table 6 exhibits acid stability study of CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3.

Details of experimental protocol are described under Experiment 7.MIC/MBC values were determined by microbroth dilution assay.

Table 7 shows the effect of CPP-1 on pig gastric H⁺K⁺-ATPase activity.

The data are averages of 3-4 determinations each carried out intriplicate. The assay system contained 10 mM PIPES-Tris (pH 6.8), 2 mMeach of ATP and MgCl₂ with or without 10 mM KCl and about 10 mg membraneprotein in a final volume of 1 mL. Both blank and experimental tubeswith or without CPP-1 at different concentrations were preincubated withotherwise complete assay mixture at 37° C. for 10 min before initiatingthe reaction with the substrate ATP. K⁺-stimulated activity referred toas H⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity, was calculated as the difference between theactivity in presence of Mg²⁺ plus K⁺ and the basal activity(Mg²⁺-ATPase) in presence of Mg2⁺ alone. The specific activity ofH⁺,K⁺-ATPase in control sets was in the range of 40-50 μmole Pi/mgprotein/h.

FIGS. 1A-1J represent time-kill analyses of compounds CPP-1, NMC-1,NMC-2 and CPP-3 against two H. pylori strains, clinical isolate HP001and ATCC® 43504.

Left-side panels (FIGS. 1A-1E) HP001; right-side panels (FIGS. 1F-1J)ATCC® 43504. The time and dose-kill curves for each of the compoundsrepresent, whenever applicable, 0.5XMIC (filled circles), 1XMIC (filledsquares), 2XMIC (filled triangles) and 4XMIC (filled hexagons). Control(open circles), bacterial suspension without compound or antibiotic,contained either ethanol or DMSO at the concentration used. MICs ofCPP-1 (FIGS. 1A and 1F) and NMC-1 (FIGS. 1B and 1G) and that of NMC-2(FIGS. 1C and 1H) and CPP-3 (FIGS. 1D and 1I), against both the strains,were 6.25 and 12.5 μg/mL respectively. The MICs of clarithromycinagainst HP001 (panel e) and ATCC® 43504 (panel j) were 0.01 μg/mL and0.04 m/mL respectively.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show an experiment that examined development ofresistance to test compounds CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2, and NMC-3 and alsoclarithromycin, amoxicillin and metronidazole in ATCC® 43504 (FIG. 2A)and clinical strain HP001 (FIG. 2B).

Drugs were prepared as 2-fold dilutions in medium in 96-wellmicroplates. The test strains were added with an inoculum size ofapproximately 10⁶ CFU/well. After 3-day incubation, the culture fromeach series with the highest concentration of the drugs and also showingturbidity was subcultured in a fresh series and as such the process wasrepeated ten times. MIC minimum inhibitory concentration;CLR—clarithromycin; AMX—amoxicillin; MNZ—metronidazole.

FIGS. 3A-1, 3A-2, 3A-3 and 3A-4 show time kill analysis of CPP-1 atrespectively different pH values of 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.2.

The bacterial suspension (ATCC® 43504) was incubated in biphasic cultureseeded with CPP-1 at different concentrations under microaerophilicatmosphere at 37° C. The samples were taken for viable count at 0, 3, 6,9, 12 and 24 h. Symbols: ∘ control; ● 6.25 mg/mL; ▪ 12.5 mg/mL; ▴ 25mg/mL.

FIGS. 3B-1, 3B-2, 3B-3 and 3B-4 show short-time kill, kinetics study ofCPP-1 at respectively different acidic pH values of 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and7.2.

Employing ATCC® 43504 strain in shake culture, short time killingkinetics with the most potent molecule CPP-1 was investigated at pH 4.0,5.0 and 6.0. Control (open circle); CPP-1 50 μg/mL (filled circle);CPP-1 100 μg/mL (filled square); CPP-1 150 μg/mL (filled triangle).

FIGS. 4A-4D show morphological transformation of HP001 upon 24-hexposure to increasing concentrations of CPP-1.

FIG. 4A: Control; FIG. 4B: 3.125 mg/mL CPP-1; FIG. 4C: 6.25 mg/mL CPP-1and FIG. 4D: 12.5 mg/mL CPP-1. Acridine orange fluorescence microscopicevidence is provided. The details of experimental procedures areprovided under Experiment 9.

FIGS. 5A-1, 5A-2, 5B-1, 5B-2, 5C-1 and 5C-2 show transmission electronmicrograph of H pylori exposed to CPP-1.

H. pylori ATCC® 43504 43504 cells were treated with CPP-1 for 24 h undermicroaerophilic condition at 37° C. in the absence (FIG. 5A-1), and thepresence of 6.25 μg/mL (FIG. 5B-1) and 12.5 (μg/mL (FIG. 5C-1) of CPP-1.FIGS. 5A-1, 5B-1 and 5C-1 show 8,200× magnifications of the electronmicrographs. FIGS. 5A-2, 5B-2 and 5C-2 depict higher magnifications(16,500×) of the correspondingly same micrographs depicted on the samerow (FIG. 5A-2 control; FIG. 5B-2 6.25 μg/mL; and FIG. 5C-2 12.5 μg/mL).

FIG. 6A demonstrates the effect of CPP-1 on basal acid secretion ingastric parietal cell. Dose-dependent inhibition of aminopyrine (AP)uptake ratio in parietal cell suspension after CPP-1 treatment wasmeasured.

FIG. 6B shows the effect of CPP-1 on histamine-stimulated (0.1 mM) acidsecretion in gastric parietal cell. Dose-dependent inhibition ofhistamine-stimulated aminopyrine (AP) uptake ratio in parietal cellsuspension after CPP-1 treatment was measured.

CMD: cimetidine; OPZL: omeprazole. In all experiments, the datarepresent averages of 2-3 determinations each carried out in triplicate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the development of a semi-synthetichetero-dimer of chrysin and piperidine, clicked via (CH₂)_(n) spacerlinkage, namely CPP-1 and analogues thereof, as anti H. pylori as wellas gastric antisecretory agent, which is being envisaged as a potentialmono-therapy drug for the prevention and treatment of peptic ulcerdiseases. Thus, the conferred bi-functional activity within a singlemolecule has been disclosed here for the development of novel antiulcertherapeutics.

It is to be borne in mind that the current world-wide therapeuticregimen is typically triple/quadruple therapy comprising of one or twoantibiotics to kill the bacteria (like clarithromycin, amoxicillinand/or metronidazole, 1-2 antisecretory agent (either in the form of H₂receptor blocker like ranitidine, famotidine etc or gastric proton pumpinhibitor like omeprazole, rabeprazole, pantoprazole etc), occasionallywith a mucus coating agent also like bismuth tricitrate. The presentinvention disclosed both the anti H. pylori and the antisecretoryactivity in one molecule. Thus, this invention has immense commercialimplications besides being extremely novel in its approach.

In an effort to design molecules that could possess both antiHelicobacter pylori activity and also gastric antisecretory potential,to be used for the treatment of gastroduodenal ulcers, the inventorssynthesized a series of semisynthetic flavonoids, examined for theiranti H. pylori properties, picked up the best molecule, and finallydemonstrated gastric antisecretory activity in such potent anti H.pylori compound. Two series of flavone analogues, 7-O-alkylaminoderivatives of chrysin and 7-O-acyl derivatives of oroxylin A, and theparent chrysin and oroxylin A obtained from the medicinal plant Oroxylumindicum, were evaluated in vitro for anti H. pylori activity as afunction of several necessary parameters, employing a panel of clinicalisolates as well as standard strains. The most potent molecule5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-4H-benzpyran-4-one(CPP-1) showed MIC range of 3.125-25 μg/mL, MIC₅₀ of 3.125 μg/mL and MBC6.25-12.5 μg/mL with demonstrated efficacy against drug-resistant aswell as sensitive strains, could kill the bacteria within 12 h at 12.5μg/mL doses, was functionally active at acidic pH unlike clarithromycin,and did not develop drug resistance unlike metronidazole. Neither thechrysin/oroxylin A core structure nor the spacer-linked n-alkylatedamine ring system alone could contribute to the activity that suchdesigned hetero-dimers manifest. The compound CPP-1 exhibited in vitroanti gastric H⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity with an IC₅₀ value of 10 μg/mL,demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of basal acid secretion (IC₅₀ 5μg/mL) as well as histamine-stimulated acid secretion (IC₅₀ 15 μg/mL) inrabbit gastric parietal cell, indicating thereby its potential asgastric antisecretory principle. The conferred bi-functional activitywithin a single molecule has been disclosed here for the development ofnewer antiulcer therapeutics.

For the development of newer therapeutic agents, the inventorsinvestigated a wide range of Indian biodiversity including plant andmicrobial resources (Jayaraman, 2003). As a result, some of the plantsand their parts were primarily considered as ‘leads’ for the developmentof anti peptic ulcer agent (Rao et al., 2007; Das et al, 2007a, b).Oroxylum indicum is one such medicinally important plant of Indianbiodiversity that showed hints of anti ulcer activity in severalpreclinical experimental models (Khandhar et al., 2006). Most parts ofthe tree are used medicinally. The fresh root bark is a well known drugin Ayurvedic medicine as an ingredient of the compound formulationDashamularishta “concoction of ten roots” (Jabbar et al., 2004). It isalso reported that the powdered stem bark is given in dropsy anderuptive fevers, and the stem bark mixed with neem powder is used totreat fevers among tribal inhabitants of southern Bihar (Singh, 2002).Chrysin and oroxylin A are two naturally occurring flavones that areabundantly present in O. indicum (Ali et al., 1998; Babu et al., 2005,2006).

Since these compounds are abundantly present in various plants, they canbe obtained by extraction from plants. In particular, these compoundsare present in the plant Oroxylum indicum belonging to the familyBignoniaceae, in a large amount and, therefore, they can be obtainedeasily by extraction from such plants. Alternatively, these compoundscan also be prepared by synthesis.

The present invention relates generally to development of molecules forinhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria and gastroduodenalpathogenesis due to Helicobacter species, such as H. pylori. In apreferred embodiment, the methods and compositions are designed so as tosubstantially eradicate ulcer-causing bacteria. The term substantiallyeradicates preferably means at least 50%, more preferably 75%, and mostpreferably 95% of the H. pylori are killed.

The present invention additionally relates to the demonstration of antigastric acid secretion property of one or more of such compounds as wellas establishing the method of affecting gastric acid secretion andformulating pharmaceutical preparations containing one or more of thesaid compounds.

Description of the Compounds

The present invention provides a composition comprising of a compoundhaving a chrysin moiety (5,7-dihydroxy-2 phenyl chromen-4-one) that isbridged to different varieties of heterocyclic ring system at 7position, preferably N-methyl piperazine, piperidine, morpholine, or todimethylamine, through an ether linkage, via 2-6 methylene spacers inbetween, or a pharmaceutically acceptable, non-toxic, acid-addition saltthereof in a therapeutically effective amount. The present inventionalso provides a composition comprising of a compound having 7-O-acylderivatives of oroxylin A, or a pharmaceutically acceptable, non-toxic,acid-addition salt thereof in a therapeutically effective amount.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to anti H. pyloriactivity evaluation of a series of semisynthetic 7-O-alkylaminoderivatives of chrysin (I), represented by the formula X₁ wherein R₁ isselected from morpholinyl, N-methyl piperizinyl, piperidinyl andN,N′-dimethylamino, and n is 3-6, or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to anti H. pyloriactivity evaluation of 7-O-acyl derivatives of oroxylin A (II)represented by the formula X₂, wherein R₂ is selected from C₁₇ alkyl or4-tolyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Representative compounds of Formula X₁ and Formula X₂ are described inTable 1a and 1b respectively below.

TABLE 1a Representative compounds of 7-O-alkylamino derivative ofchrysin (Formula X₁) Entry Common Compound No. R₁—(CH₂)_(n) name name(IUPAC)* 1 H Chrysin 5,7-Dihydroxy-2-phenyl- chromen-4-one 1

CHM-1 5-Hydroxy-7-(6- morpholin-4-yl- hexyloxy)-2-phenyl- chromen-4-one2

NMC-1 5-Hydroxy-7-[6-(4- methyl-piperazin- 1-yl)-hexyloxy]-2-phenyl-chromen-4- one 3

CPP-1 5-Hydroxy-2-phenyl- 7-(6-piperidin-1- yl-hexyloxy)- chromen-4-one4

CHN-1 7-(6-Dimethylamino- hexyloxy)-5- hydroxy-2-phenyl- chromen-4-one 5

CHM-2 5-Hydroxy-7- (3-morpholin-4-yl- propoxy)-2-phenyl- chromen-4-one 6

NMC-2 5-Hydroxy-7-[3- (4-methyl-piperazin- 1-yl)-propoxy]-2-phenyl-chromen-4-one 7

CPP-2 5-Hydroxy-2-phenyl- 7-(3-piperidin-1- yl-propoxy)- chromen-4-one 8

CHN-2 7-(3-Dimethylamino- propoxy)-5- hydroxy-2-phenyl- chromen-4-one 9

CHM-3 5-Hydroxy-7-(4- morpholin-4-yl- butoxy)-2-phenyl- chromen-4-one 10

NMC-3 5-Hydroxy-7-[4-(4- methyl-piperazin- 1-yl)-butoxy]-2-phenyl-chromen-4-one 11

CPP-3 5-Hydroxy-2-phenyl- 7-(4-piperidin-1- yl-butoxy)- chromen-4-one 12

CHN-3 7-(4-Dimethylamino- butoxy)-5-hydroxy- 2-phenyl-chromen-4-one *TheIUPAC name was obtained using AutoNom 1.0 add-in for ISIS draw from MDLInformation Systems, Inc.

TABLE 1b Representative compounds of 7-O-acyl derivative of oroxylin A(Formula X₂) Example Entry. Common No. R₂ name Compound name (IUPAC)* 13

ORC-16 Heptadecanoic acid 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-4-oxo-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-7-yl ester 14

ORPM-1 4-methyl-benzoic acid 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-4-oxo-2-phenyl-4-H-chromen-yl ester *The IUPAC name was obtained usingAutoNom 1.0 add-in for ISIS draw from MDL Information Systems, Inc.

The methods of isolation and/or synthesis, and structuralcharacterization of chrysin and oroxylin A and the synthetic analoguesas in entry no. 5-14 (Tables 1a, 1b) are disclosed in patent applicationWO/2007/080484.

Method of Making a Few Designed Compounds of the Present Invention

In general, the compounds of this invention may be prepared by standardtechniques known in the art, by known processes analogues thereto,and/or by the processes discussed below, using starting materials whichare either naturally obtained, commercially available, producibleaccording to routine, conventional chemical methods, and/or thesynthesis of which are described herein (Babu et al., 2005, 2006; Rao etal., 2007).

However, based on the objectives of this invention and the observationsdisclosed in the earlier patent (Rao et al., 2007), we wanted to designsynthesize such molecules that would impart both anti H. pylori activityand gastric antisecretory activity, so as to mechanistically mitigatethe two major causes of peptic ulcer diseases (the bug H. pylori and theacid HCl), thereby effectively achieving the central objective of thisinvention that a single molecule can be designed which would replace thecurrently prevailing triple therapy.

Thus, the chromen-4-one derivatives of Formula X₁ where R₁ ismorpholinyl, N-methyl piperizinyl, piperidinyl and N,N′-dimethylamino,can be prepared by the method outlined below in Scheme I and asdescribed in Babu et al. (2006).

In Scheme I, the 7-O-hexyl chrysin derivatives of formula X₁ where R₁ ismorpholinyl, N-methyl piperizinyl, piperidinyl and N,N′-dimethylaminomay be synthesized by alkylation of chrysin (I) using 1,6 dibromo hexanein presence of a base such as potassium carbonate in a solvent such asacetone under reflux condition to afford 7-O-(6-bromohexyl)-chrysin(III). The appropriate amine (morpholine/N-methylpiperazine/piperidine/N,N′-dimethyl amine) was alkylated with compound(III) in presence of a base such as potassium carbonate in a solventsuch as anhydrous acetonitrile under reflux condition to afford thedesired compounds of 7-O-hexyl chrysin derivatives (CHM-1, NMC-1, CPP-1,CHN-1).

A compound of formula X₂ where R₂ is C₁₇ alkyl or 4-tolyl can generallybe synthesized from oroxylin A (II) as described in Babu et al. (2005).

The following examples are given by way of illustration and should notconstrued the scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-chromen-4-one (CPP-1)

Step 1:

-   -   To a mixture of chrysin I (1 g, 3.93 mole) and anhydrous        potassium carbonate (0.81 g, 5.8 mmol) in 20 mL acetone,        1,6-dibromohexane was added. The mixture was refluxed under        nitrogen atmosphere for 4 h. After completion of the reaction,        potassium carbonate was filtered and washed with excess of        acetone (2×50 mL). The combined acetone layers were concentrated        under vacuum. The residue was purified by column chromatography        on silica gel (60-120 mesh) to yield 7-(6-bromohexyl) chrysin.

Step 2:

-   -   To a mixture of 7-(6-bromohexyl) chrysin and anhydrous potassium        carbonate (2.41 g, 17.2 mmole) in 20 mL acetonitrile, piperidine        was added. The mixture was refluxed under nitrogen atmosphere        for 3 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture        was brought to room temperature (25° C.) and was poured into ice        water and washed with methylene chloride (2×10 mL). The combined        organic layers were dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and        concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by column        chromatography on silica gel (60-120 mesh) to give        5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-chromen-4-one        (CPP-1).

Using the method of Example 1, and appropriate reagents, compoundsCHM-1, NMC-1 and CHN-1 were similarly prepared.

In another embodiment of the present invention of synthetic analogues,7-O-hexyl (morpholino) chrysin (Entry No. 1, CHM-1)) have the followingspectrochemical and physical properties: Pale yellow solid, mp 103° C.,¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 12.74 (1H, s, OH-5), 7.92-7.82 (2H, m,H-2′,6′), 7.58-7.44 (3H, m, H-3′,4′,5′), 6.70 (1H, s, H-3), 6.58 (1H, d,J=1.8 Hz, H-6), 6.40 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz, H-6), 4.20 (2H, t, J=6 Hz, H-1″),3.78 (4H, t, H-3″′,5″′), 2.40 (4H, t, J=4 Hz, H-2″′,6″′), 2.38-2.30 (2H,m, H-6″), 2.0-1.80 (4H, m, H-2″), 1.60-1.55 (2H, m, H-3″), 1.42-1.38(4H, m, H-4″,5″). FABMS: 434 (M⁺ ⁺1).

In another embodiment of the present invention of synthetic analogues,7-O-hexyl (N-methyl piperazinyl) chrysin (Entry No. 2, NMC-1) have thefollowing spectrochemical and physical properties: yellow solid, mp 107°C., ²H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 12.60 (1H, s, OH-5), 7.94-7.82 (2H, m,H-2′,6′), 7.58-7.44 (3H, m, H-3′,4′,5′), 6.62 (1H, s, H-3), 6.42 (1H, d,J=1.8 Hz, H-6), 6.26 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz, H-8), 4.18 (2H, t, J=6 Hz, H-1″),2.58-2.30 (8H, m, H-3″′,5″′ and H-2″′,6″′), 2.40 (2H, t, J=4 Hz, H-6″),2.22 (3H, Me), 1.82-1.78 (2H, m, H-2″), 1.56-1.42 (4H, m, H-4″, H-5″),1.42-1.38 (2H, m, H-3″). FABMS: 447 (M⁺ ⁺1).

In another embodiment of the present invention of synthetic analogues,7-O-hexyl (piperidinyl) chrysin (Entry No. 3, CPP-1) have the followingspectrochemical and physical properties: Pale yellow solid, mp 108.8°C., ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 12.71 (1H, s, OH-5), 7.90-7.86 (2H, m,H-2′,6′), 7.58-7.51 (3H, m, H-3′,4′,5′), 6.67 (1H, s, H-3), 6.50 (1H, d,J=1.5 Hz, H-6), 6.36 (1H, d, J=1.5 Hz, H-8), 4.0 (2H, t, J=6 Hz, H-1″),2.80-2.60 (6H, m, H-2″′,6″′ and H-6″), 1.80-1.60 (4H, m, H-2″, H-5″),1.60-1.20 (10H, m, H-3″′,5″′,4″′). FABMS: 422 (M⁺ ⁺1).

In another embodiment of the present invention of synthetic analogues,7-O-hexyl (N,N′-dimethylamino) chrysin (Entry No. 4, CHN-1) have thefollowing spectrochemical and physical properties: pale yellow solid, mp85° C., ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): 8 12.70 (1H, s, OH-5), 7.84-7.88 (2H,m, H-2′,6′), 7.52-7.58 (3H, m, H-3′,4′,5′), 6.70 (1H, s, H-8), 6.48 (1H,s, H-3), 6.38 (1H, s, H-6), 4.12 (2H, t, H-1″), 2.22-2.38 (4H, m,H-2″,6″), 2.0 (6H, s, 2×Me), 1.78-1.82 (2H, m, H-5″), 1.44-1.58 (2H, m,H-3″), 1.38-1.42 (2H, m, H-4″). FABMS: 382 (M⁺⁺⁺1).

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds are also within thescope of this invention. The term ‘pharmaceutically acceptable salts’refer to an inorganic or organic salt of a compound of the presentinvention that has properties acceptable for therapeutic use.

Biological Activity

The present invention relates to conferring anti H. pylori activity insome designed semisynthetic flavonoids like 7-O-alkylamino chrysinderivatives (formula X₁) and 7-O-acyl oroxylin A derivatives (formulaX₂). Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, the anti H.pylori activity of 16 such molecules, 2 naturally isolated and 14semisynthetically designed, were screened by disc diffusion sensitivityassay employing ATCC® standard strains as well as clinical isolates.Based on the observed inhibition zone diameter (see Table 2) as obtainedwith two doses of the molecules and with majority of the strains, thecompounds were grouped into four classes, viz., compounds CPP-1 andCPP-3 as strongly active (3⁺, diameter>30 mm), compounds CHN-2, CHM-3and CHN-3 as intermediate active (2⁺, ˜20-30 mm diameter), compoundsCHM-1, NMC-1, NMC-2, CPP-2 and NMC-3 as moderately active (1⁺, ˜10-20 mmdiameter), and the two natural compounds chrysin and oroxylin A as wellas CHN-1, CHM-2, ORC-16 and ORPM-1 as not active (<10 mm diameter).Thus, lack of activity in natural molecules was surmounted by inventingappropriate substitutions like piperidinyl group in R₂ position ofchrysin core structure as in Formula X₁.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the MIC values of allthe 10 compounds that have shown some activity in disc diffusionsusceptibility test (zone of inhibition>10 mm) were determined by agardilution method following CLSI® antimicrobial susceptibility testingprotocol and employing a panel of clinical isolates and ATCC® standardstrains (Table 3a). Compounds like NMC-1, CPP-1, NMC-2, CPP-2 and CPP-3showed high bacteriostatic activity, CPP-1 being the most potent. Anassessment of the MIC range vis-à-vis MIC₅₀ values of some potentcompounds gave a rank order as: CPP-1 (MIC range 3.125-25 μg/mL,MIC₅₀˜3.125 μg/mL)>NMC-1 (MIC range 6.25-12.5, μg/mL MIC₅₀˜6.25μg/mL)>NMC-2=CPP-2=CPP-3 (MIC range 6.25-100, μg/mL MIC₅₀˜12.5 μg/mL).Among the other molecules, such values of CHM-1, CHN-2, NMC-3 and CHN-3were about 6.25-25 μg/mL and 25 μg/mL respectively, and that of CHM-3was 50-100 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL respectively (Table 3b). The naturalmolecules chrysin and oroxylin A however showed much higher MIC rangeand MIC50 values. CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3 exerted potential antiH. pylori activity even in metronidazole-resistant clinical strains, atsimilar doses, as with other sensitive strains. Such compounds aretherefore expected to be effective against drug-resistant as well assensitive strains of H. pylori thereby achieving one of the objectivesof this invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the MIC and the MBCvalues of the four most active compounds, namely, NMC-1, CPP-1, NMC-2and CPP-3, were further examined by microbroth dilution assay employingone each of clinical strain and ATCC® standard strain (Table 4). Basedon both bacteriostatic as well as bactericidal activity, as judged bythe two methods and using several H. pylori strains, such four compoundswere rank ordered in terms of efficacy as CPP-1>NMC-1>CPP-3>NMC-2.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the role of flavonemoiety or the n-alkylated amine ring system in manifesting the activitywas ascertained. The inhibition zone diameter and the MIC values weredetermined for five selected molecules containing either the flavonecomponent with ether linked spacer or the n-alkylated amine componentsattached with spacer (Table 5). All five compounds showed negligibleactivity confirming the necessity of both the chrysin core structure aswell the spacer containing ring systems in manifesting the anti H.pylori activity.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the bactericidalactivity of the four potent molecules, CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3,were investigated using time kill assay employing one each of clinicaland standard strains of H. pylori (FIG. 1). The series of evidence thathave been generated in time- and dose-dependent killing of both clinicalas well as standard strains by such molecules, examined around theirMIC/MBC values, suggests comparative better efficacy of CPP-1 among allthe four compounds.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, it is demonstratedthat a clinical strain HP001 and a standard strain ATCC® 43504, bothresistant to metronidazole (MIC for metronidazole are 12.5 and 50 μg/mLrespectively), remained susceptible to CPP-1 treatment in vitro.Following repeated, exposure for 10 growth cycles in the presence ofsub-MIC dose of CPP-1, there was no significant increase in MIC values,meaning chances of resistance development with CPP-1 treatment isminimal (FIG. 2). Other 3 compounds, namely NMC-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3, diddevelop some resistance as evident from 4-8 fold increase of their MICvalues.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the anti H. pyloripotential of CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3 was examined at acidic pHwith a view to ascertain their efficacy in stomach acidic environment.Accordingly, the acid stability of the four compounds were examined byexposing them at acidic pH of 2.0 for 2 hours, and then diluting in96-well microtitre plate to see the changes in MIC and MBC values, ifany (Table 6). The activity of CPP-1 remained almost unchanged uponprolonged exposure to acid as evident from just about 2-fold increase inMIC and MBC values, while the other compounds showed relatively higherincrease of their MIC/MBC values. This provided clue as to the putativeefficacy of CPP-1 in the gastric acidic environment. It was therefore offurther interest to examine the killing potential of the most activecompound CPP-1 at variable stomach pH ranging 4.0 to 7.2.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, H. pylori standardstrain ATCC® 43504 was grown in pH range of 4.0-7.2 by two methods,biphasic culture to investigate long-term killing kinetics andshort-time killing kinetics in shake culture media where the liquidmedia was shaken at 150 rpm to facilitate quick growth of the bacteria.The evidence suggests that the compound CPP-1 is quite effective inkilling H. pylori at lower pH values. In biphasic culture media whereMBC concentration ranges can be used to demonstrate killing phenomenon,the initial rate of killing at all the concentrations was found to beprogressively increasing as the pH goes down indicating strongly thatthe compound CPP-1 is equally active, if not more, at acidic pH of thestomach (FIG. 3a ). This was also evident in short-time kill kineticsstudy in shake culture media, where higher concentrations of thecompound though are necessary (4-8 times MBC dose), albeit during thelater phase of the killing (FIG. 3b ).

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the morphologicaltransformation of H. pylori cells from live, rod and spiral shape tonon-alive coccoid shape upon exposure to CPP-1 during growth wasexamined by acridine orange fluorescence staining method (FIG. 4).Progressive transformation of a majority of live and spiral-shapedbacteria (clinical strain HP001) showing orange fluorescence tococcoid-shaped cells exhibiting green fluorescence characteristic ofnon-alive cells in the presence of increasing concentration of CPP-1became evident.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, such morphologicalalterations of H. pylori cells exposed to CPP-1 were examined intransmission electron microscope. Most of the untreated control cells(ATCC® 43504) appeared as slightly curved or straight bacilli. Culturesexposed to two concentrations of CPP-1 for 24 h under microaerophilicconditions at 37° C. revealed only few bacteria with intact shape andstructure at 6.25 μg/mL, and at higher dose (12.5 μg/mL), most cellswere found to be progressively swollen and destroyed (FIG. 5). Thereplacement of the normal bacilliform morphology by cell wall blebbing,lytic cells and vesiculation became distinctly apparent.

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the effect of thecompound CPP-1 was examined for its capacity to inhibit gastric protonpump. Gastric H⁺ pump (H⁺,K⁺-ATPase) is one of the important targets indesigning antisecretory drugs. Using H⁺,K⁺-ATPase rich tubulovesicularand apical membranes, isolated from freshly slaughtered pig gastricmucosa, the effects of different concentrations of CPP-1 on suchmembrane H⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity was examined in vitro. The observationsuggests that the compound CPP-1 at the dose range of 1-10 μg/assay caninhibit H⁺,K⁺-ATPase to an extent of 10-50% (Table 7). Under identicalexperimental condition omeprazole, the standard medicine used forinhibiting gastric H⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity, inhibits 20-80% of enzymeactivity in the same dose range of 1-10 μg/assay. This evidence wastaken to mean that the compound has the potential to effectively blockgastric H⁺,K⁺-ATPase, and thereby can act as anti-secretory agent.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the compound CPP-1was examined for its capacity to reduce gastric acid secretion. Suchexperiments can be performed using gastric acid secreting cells, calledparietal cell. Live, pure and stimulation-competent gastric parietalcells have been prepared from rabbit gastric mucosa to examine theeffect of different concentrations of CPP-1 on acid secreting processes,both basal acid secretion and stimulated acid secretion. Histamine (0.1mM) was used as physiological secretagogue to stimulate freshly preparedparietal cells in experimental set up. Concentration-dependent stronginhibition of both basal (FIG. 6a ) as well as histamine stimulated acidsecretion (FIG. 6b ), as measured by [¹⁴C]-aminopyrine uptake ratio, wasobserved, indicating strong potential of CPP-1 as gastric anti secretoryagent. Parallel experiments carried out with two classes of gastric antisecretory medicines, namely, H₂ receptor blocker cimetidine, and protonpump inhibitor omeprazole indicated that CPP-1 is better than receptorblocker cimetidine but somewhat less potent than H⁺ pump inhibitoromeprazole. Thus, gastric anti-secretory property of CPP-1 is evidentlyproved both in cell-based and enzyme based experimental demonstration,thereby providing strong evidence in support of its use for thetreatment of gastric hyperacidity related disorders, including pepticulcer diseases, gastro esophageal reflux disorders and chronicgastritis.

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the compound CPP-1has been demonstrated to be non-toxic. In acute toxicity study usingSwiss albino mice, it is demonstrated that CPP-1 up to a dose of 0.5g/kg of body weight, did not show any mortality, and the animalsremained completely healthy after 15 days.

EXAMPLE 2 Description of Biological Experiments Experiment 1 Anti H.pylori Screening by Disc Diffusion Susceptibility Assay

The anti H. pylori activity of all 16 flavonoid molecules, 2 naturallyisolated and 14 synthetic derivatives, was screened by disc diffusionsensitivity assay employing 2 clinical strains HP001 and HP002, andthree standard strains ATCC® 700392, 43504 and 49503. A 0.5 mL inoculum(10⁸ CFU/mL) for each bacterial strain tested was flooded on freshlyprepared Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar plates supplemented with 7%FCS, 0.5% IsoVitalex and 0.0025% DENT® and the discs (5 mm diameter)containing different compounds or antibiotics (dissolved either inethanol or DMSO) were placed on the agar surface. After incubation for 3days in a microaerophilic atmosphere at 37° C., the diameter of the zoneof inhibition was measured (Glupczynsky, 1996; McNulty et al., 2002).Clarithromycin showed inhibition zone of 18 mm for the strains HP001 andHP002 at 0.01 mg/disc and that of 28, 20 and 15 mm respectively withstrains 700392 (0.4 mg/disc), 43504 (0.04 mg/disc) and 49503 (0.005mg/disc). Amoxycillin gave inhibition zone diameter of 10-16 mm withclinical strains at 0.16 mg/disc and about 13-15 mm with standardstrains at 0.5-1.0 mg/disc.

Based on the observed inhibition zone diameter as obtained with twodoses of the molecules (100 and 200 μg/disc) and with majority of thestrains (Table 2), the compounds were grouped into four classes: (i)compounds CPP-1 and CPP-3 as strongly active (diameter>30 mm) and weregiven a score of 3⁺, (ii) compounds CHN-2, CHM-3 and CHN-3 asintermediate active (^(˜)20-30 mm diameter) and were given a score of2⁺, (iii) compounds CHM-1, NMC-1, NMC-2, CPP-2 and NMC-3 as moderatelyactive (^(˜)10-20 min diameter) and were given a score of 1⁺, and (iv)the two natural compounds chrysin, and oroxylin A as well as CHN-1,CHM-2, ORC-16 and ORPM-1 as not active (>10 mm diameter). There was notmuch strain specific variation with all the molecules, excepting withcompounds CPP-1, CHN-2, CPP-3 and CHN-3 wherein we found a maximum ofabout 10 mm difference in zone diameters (Table 2).

TABLE 2 Anti H. pylori activity of the compound analogues Inhibitionzone diameter (score) Entry Clinical strain ATCC standard strain No.Sample HP001 HP002 700392 43504 49503 I Chrysin Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 1CHM-1 + + + Nil + 2 NMC-1 + ++ + + + 3 CPP-1 ++ +++ ++ ++ +++ 4 CHN-1Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 5 CHM-2 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 6 NMC-2 + ++ + + + 7CPP-2 + + + + + 8 CHN-2 ++ ++ + ++ ++ 9 CHM-3 ++ ++ + + ++ 10 NMC-3 +++ + + + 11 CPP-3 ++ +++ ++ ++ ++ 12 CHN-3 ++ ++ + + ++ II Oroxylin ANil Nil Nil Nil Nil 13 ORC-16 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 14 ORPM-1 + Nil NilNil Nil

Experiment 2 Anti H. pylori Spectrum by Agar Dilution Method

MICs were determined against a panel of 6 clinical isolates (HP001,HP002, HP003, HP004, HP005 and HP006), and 4 standard strains in BHIagar plates following essentially CLSI® antimicrobial susceptibilitytesting method (Glupczyriski et al., 2002; Best et al., 2003).Essentially, the strains employed for the evaluation were clarithromycinand amoxicillin sensitive. The standard strain ATCC® 43504 and all sixclinical strains were metronidazole resistant, but standard strainsATCC® 700392, 49503, and 43629 were metronidazole sensitive. Platescontained two-fold serial dilutions of the compounds ranging from1.56-100 ng/mL. Five microlitres of 3-day old freshly grown H. pyloriculture (^(˜)10⁸ CFU/mL) was inoculated onto drug-containing BHI agarplates supplemented with 7% FCS, 0.5% IsoVitalex and 0.0025% DENT®,which were then incubated for 3 days under microaerophilic condition at37° C. The MIC was defined as the lowest concentrations that completelyinhibited the development of visible growth on the agar plates, and weredetermined in duplicate for each strain.

The MIC values of all the 10 molecules that have shown some activitywere evaluated by agar dilution method (Table 3a). The results indicatedpotential bacteriostatic activity in compounds like NMC-1, CPP-1, NMC-2,CPP-2 and CPP-3. Somewhat good activity of the molecules NMC-3 and CHN-3was also noted. Such MIC data correlated well with the values obtainedby disk diffusion sensitivity assay. An assessment of the MIC₅₀ values(Table 3b) of some potent compounds gave a rank order: CPP-1 (^(˜)3.125μg/mL)>NMC-1 (^(˜)6.25 μg/mL)>NMC-2=CPP-3=CPP-2 (^(˜)12.5 μg/mL). Amongthe other molecules, such MIC₅₀ value of the compounds CHM-1, CHN-2,CHN-3 and NMC-3 was about 25 μg/mL, and that of compound CHM-3 wereapproximately 50-100 μg/mL. The molecules chrysin, oroxylin A and itstwo semisynthetic derivatives, showed much higher MIC₅₀ values. We havealso determined MIC values of the standard antibiotics, clarithromycin,amoxycillin and metronidazole against the clinical isolates and thestandard strains (Table 3a).

TABLE 3a Anti. H. pylori spectrum by agar dilution method MIC (μg/mL)Clinical strain Standard strain Compound HP001 HP002 HP003 HP004 HP005HP006 43504 49503 700392 43629 CHM-1 25 25 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 25 2525 25 NMC-1 12.5 6.25 <6.25 <6.25 <6.25 <6.25 <12.5 6.25 12.5 12.5 CPP-16.25 6.25 <3.125 <3.125 <3.125 <3.125 6.25 6.25 3.125 25 NMC-2 12.5 6.2512.5 12.5 6.25 12.5 12.5 3.125 12.5 25 CPP-2 25 25 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5<12.5 12.5 25 25 100 CHN-2 25 25 12.5 12.5 25 25 50 25 50 12.5 CHM-3 5050 100 100 100 100 50 50 50 100 NMC-3 25 25 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 2525 25 25 CPP-3 25 25 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 12.5 25 25 100 CHN-3 25 25<12.5 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 25 25 25 25 Clarithromycin 0.016 0.032 <0.020.04 0.08 0.08 0.032 0.016 0.064 0.1 Amoxicillin 0.032 0.032 0.016 0.0160.016 0.016 0.0625 0.032 0.0625 0.032 Metronidazole 12.5 >100 100 100 2525 50 1.56 1.56 1.56

TABLE 3b MIC range and MIC₅₀ of active compounds MIC (μg/ml) CompoundRange MIC₅₀ CHM-1 6.25-25 25 NMC-1  6.25-12.5 6.25 CPP-1 3.125-25  3.125NMC-2  3.125-12.5 12.5 CPP-2  6.25-100 12.5 CHN-2 12.5-50 25 CHM-3  50-100 50 NMC-3 6.25-25 25 CPP-3  6.25-100 12.5 CHN-3 6.25-25 25Clarithromycin 0.016-0.1  0.032 Amoxicillin   0.016-0.0625 0.032Metronidazole 1.56−>100 50

Experiment 3 Determination of MIC and MBC Values by Microbroth DilutionAssay

Based on disc diffusion sensitivity and MIC values both, the four mostactive compounds, namely, NMC-1, CPP-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3 were consideredfor further evaluation. In microbroth dilution assay employing oneclinical and one standard strain, both the bacteriostatic and thebactericidal values were determined for all four compounds as well asfor clarithromycin (Table 4). Two-fold serial dilutions were prepared in96-well microtitre plate containing a total volume of 0.1 mL MuellerHinton broth supplemented with 5% FCS. A 3-day old liquid culture wasdiluted 10 times in Mueller Hinton broth and 0.1 mL of these cultureswas inoculated into each well to give a final concentration of ˜10⁶CFU/mL. The plates were incubated for 3 days in a microaerophilicatmosphere at 37° C. Following incubation, the plates were examinedvisually, and the lowest concentration showing complete inhibition ofgrowth was recorded as the MIC of the respective compound (Hachem etal., 1996). Aliquots (0.1 mL) of 72-h culture in which no growth hadbeen detected were taken from the wells of the above microtitre platesand used to streak on fresh BHI agar plates. MBCs were determined byvisual inspection of such plates after further incubation for 72 h at37° C. and the titre-point where no growth (less than 10 colonies)appeared was considered as the MBC.

The compound CPP-1 showed lowest MIC and MBC values of ˜6.25 μg/mL withstandard strain 43504 (Table 4). None of the other three moleculesshowed such low MIC and MBC values considering the data obtained withboth the strains. However, with clinical strain HP001, both thecompounds CPP-1 and NMC-1 appear to have shown similar potency (MIC 6.25μg/mL and MBC 12.5 μg/mL) and the compounds NMC-2 and CPP-3 exhibited a2-fold lower potency. The compound CPP-1 was found to kill the standardstrain ATCC® 43504 below 6.25 μg/mL. But for killing the clinical straina 2-fold dose i.e., 12.5 μg/mL was required. Employing the same dose,bacteriostatic but not the bactericidal activity could be achieved withother compounds like NMC-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3 (Table 4).

TABLE 4 Determination of MIC and MBC by microbroth dilution method MIC(μg/mL) MBC (μg/mL) Sample HP001 ATCC 43504 HP001 ATCC 43504 NMC-1 6.256.25 12.5 25 CPP-1 6.25 6.25 12.5 <6.25 NMC-2 12.5 12.5 25 50 CPP-3 12.512.5 25 25 Clarithromycin 0.01 0.04 0.04 0.08

Experiment 4 Anti H. pylori Activity of the Spacer Group

It was of necessity to determine the role of the substituted cyclohexanering system attached to chrysin core structure through 3 C, 4 C and 6 Cspacers in manifesting the anti H. pylori activity. Thus the activity offive such molecules was investigated against H. pylori employing discdiffusion sensitivity assay and MIC determination by microbroth dilutionassay. As evident from Table 5, none of the spacers bearing morpholinyl,N-methyl piperazinyl or piperidinyl showed any anti H. pylori activity.Also, the withdrawal of the OH group from the 5-position of the parentchrysin ring system resulted loss in anti H. pylori activity.

TABLE 5 Anti H. pylori activity evaluation of the spacer molecules bydisc diffusion sensitivity assay and microbroth dilution assayInhibition Zone Diameter (mm) MIC (μg/mL) Spacer HP001 ATCC 43504 HP001ATCC 43504

Nil Nil >400 >400

Nil Nil >400 >400

Nil Nil >400 >400

Nil Nil >400 >400

Nil Nil >400 >400 ‘Nil’ means zone of inhibition below 10 mm.

Experiment 5 Time Kill Kinetic Analyses of the Four Active CompoundsCPP-1, NMC-1, CPP-3 and NMC-2

The bactericidal activity of the four potent molecules was furtherinvestigated using time kill assay employing one clinical and a standardstrain (FIG. 1). The rate of bacterial killing by four compounds at0.5′-, 1′-, 2′- and 4′MIC dose against log phase cultures containing^(˜)10⁶ cells/mL were determined over 36 h in biphasic culture media(Wang & Huang, 2005). Briefly, H. pylori was grown in a 50-mL flaskcontaining biphasic medium consisting of 5 mL BHI agar supplemented with7% FCS, 0.5% Isovitalex and 0.0025% DENT® plus 5 mL Brucella brothcontaining 5% FCS. Five mL of molten BHI agar was poured at the bottomof the flask and the compounds were added at appropriate concentration.On cooling, when a solid plate was formed at the bottom of the flask, 4mL Brucella broth was poured over the agar and same amount of sample asadded into agar was added in the broth. The experiment was initiated byadding 1 mL (^(˜)10⁶ CFU/mL) of 24-h culture, grown under similarbiphasic condition, to the experimental flasks, kept in microaerophiliccondition at 37° C. At 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h, 0.1 mL of culture wastaken out, appropriately diluted and streaked onto fresh BHI agar plateto determine viable counts. The rates of killing were determined bymeasuring the decrease in viable bacteria (log₁₀ CFU/mL) in presence ofincreasing concentrations of the compounds. The minimum detection levelwas 100 CFU/mL. Viable count determinations of control cultures witheither DMSO or ethanol were indistinguishable from the‘solvent-free-control’ values. The effect of clarithromycin was alsostudied under similar experimental condition.

With clinical strain HP001, clarithromycin could not produce anyinhibition of cell growth within 6 h (FIG. 1, panel e) even at 4′MICdose. At around 9 h, the inhibition was somewhat prominent, causing1-log decrease in cell count. However, at all 3 concentrations, theviable cell count drastically lowered down to 10² CFU/mL within 24 h.The killing kinetics of the four most active compounds NMC-1, CPP-1,NMC-2 and CPP-3 were studied under similar experimental conditions aswith standard antibiotics. With compound CPP-1, dose-dependent killingwas observed within 6 h (panel a). The lower dose (1×MIC), althoughcaused bacterial killing to some extent, was not high enough to producetotal bactericidal activity. With compound NMC-1 at 12.5 μg/mL, completebactericidal effect (a 4-log decrease in cell count) within 12 h wasnoted (panel b). The MIC dose (6.25 μg/mL) could not however exertcomplete killing even at 36 h. With compound NMC-2 (panel c), thekilling effect was evident only after 9 h of incubation. The MIC dose(12.5 μg/mL) once again did not kill the bacteria completely even at 36h, whereas the next higher dose (25 μg/mL) could produce bactericidalactivity (a 4-log decrease) within 24 h. Compound CPP-3 at MIC dosecould not exert any effect on bactericidal activity. The 2×MIC dose (25μg/mL) was however sufficient to kill the bacteria (4-log decrease)within 12 h (panel d).

Using standard strain ATCC® 43504, the time kill assay with same 4compounds CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3 along with clarithromycin wascarried out. Clarithromycin at 0.08 μg/mL did exert complete killing(4-log decrease in cell count) within 24 h. Compound CPP-1, at 0.5×MIC(3.125 μg/mL), could produce only f-log decrease in cell count within 36h while at 1×MIC (6.25 μg/mL) and at MBC value (i.e., 2×MIC), itexhibited complete killing within 36 h and 24 h respectively (panel f).Compound NMC-1 produced only 1-log decrease in cell count within 36 h atMIC value (6.25 μg/mL) while at 2×MIC (i.e., MBC; 12.5 μg/mL), completekilling of bacteria was observed within 24 hour (panel g). The MIC doseof compound NMC-2 (12.5 μg/mL) could not produce complete killing of thestandard strain, but at MBC (25 μg/mL) a complete killing effect wasobserved well within 12 h (panel h). Compound CPP-3 has no killingpotency at MIC (12.5 μg/mL). The next two higher doses (25 μg/mL and 50μg/mL) could however kill the bacteria totally in about 12 h, the rateof killing being slightly different between the low and high dose (paneli).

Experiment 6 Induction of Drug Resistance by CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2 andCPP-3

To investigate the development of drug resistance, CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2and CPP-3 were prepared as 2-fold serial dilutions with medium in96-well microtitre plates. H. pylori strains, one clinical HP001 and onestandard ATCC® 43504, were inoculated into each dilution series at aninoculum size of ^(˜)10⁶ CFU/well. After 3 days of incubation, theculture from each series with the highest concentrations of the compoundand also showing turbidity was subcultured in a fresh series of the samedrug. This procedure was repeated for up to 10 cycles, and alterationsin MIC values during the course of continued exposure were determined(Iwao et al., 2004).

The repeated transfer (10 times) of the standard as well as the clinicalstrain (both metronidazole resistant) in the drug containing mediaproduced no significant increase in MIC values for CPP-1 (only 2-foldincrease in MIC value), while somewhat higher increase of the MIC valueswas observed with other 3 compounds (FIG. 2). This is taken to mean thatCPP-1, as compared with other three molecules, is better as far thechance of resistance development is concerned.

Experiment 7 Acid Stability Study of CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3

A 100 μL stock of CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3 (1-2 mg/mL) was treatedwith 20-30 μL of 0.12 NHCl to bring the pH of the solution to ^(˜)2.0,and kept at 25° C. for 2 h (Funatogawa et al., 2004). Such acid-treatedsamples were then serially diluted (2 fold) with medium in 96-wellmicrotitre plates to determine the MIC and the MBC values by microbrothdilution assay as detailed under Experiment 3.

The activity of CPP-1 remained almost unchanged upon prolonged exposureto acid as evident from just about 2-fold increase in MIC and MBCvalues, while the other compounds showed relatively higher increase oftheir MIC/MBC values (Table 6).

TABLE 6 Acid stability study of CPP-1, NMC-1, NMC-2 and CPP-3 MIC(mg/mL) MBC (mg/mL) Control Acid treated Control Acid treated SampleHP001 43504 HP001 43504 HP001 43504 HP001 43504 CPP-1 6.25 6.25 12.512.5 12.5 <6.25 <12.5 25 NMC-1 6.25 6.25 12.5 25 12.5 25 25 <25 NMC-212.5 12.5 25 25 25 50 50 <50 CPP-3 12.5 12.5 25 50 25 25 50 <50

Experiment 8a Effect of CPP-1 on H. pylori Kill Kinetics in BiphasicCulture at Different pH

The decrease in viable cell count during exposure to CPP-1 was evaluatedas a function of time at different low pH values (citrate buffer for pH4.0 and 5.0 and citrate-phosphate buffer for pH 6.0) using biphasicculture. A 24-h culture broth of H. pylori ATCC® 43504 (obtained frombiphasic culture) was inoculated into Brucella broth containing CPP-1 atdifferent concentrations in biphasic culture. The bacterial suspensionwas incubated in microaerophilic environment at 37° C., and samples weretaken to determine viable counts at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h after drugexposure.

At low pH, CPP-1 was found to provide potentiation of the H. pylorikilling activity at its MIC/MBC concentration ranges; the efficacy wasmore in pH 4.0 and 5.0 as compared to pH 6.0 and 7.0. The MBCconcentration of 12.5 μg/mL was enough to kill all the bacteria within10-12 h at pH 4.0 while at higher pH values, the same concentrationproduced killing only after 24 h (FIG. 3a ). Comparing the early phasekill kinetics where there was not much decrease in viable cell count atlower pH values in control system, the phenomenon is quite evident. Thisprovided clue as to the possibility of the effectiveness of the compoundCPP-1 at acidic environment of the stomach.

Experiment 8b Effect of CPP-1 on H. pylori Kill Kinetics in ShakeCulture at Different pH upon Short Time Exposure

The decrease in viable cell count during exposure to high concentrationsof CPP-1 in short time kill kinetics assay was also evaluated atdifferent acidic pH values of 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 (citrate buffer for pH4.0 and 5.0 and citrate-phosphate buffer for pH 6.0). A 24-h culturebroth of H. pylori ATCC® 43504 was inoculated into Brucella brothcontaining CPP-1 at different concentration. The bacterial suspensionwas incubated in microaerophilic environment at 37° C. with shaking at150 rpm, and samples were taken at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 minafter drug exposure to determine viable counts.

The effect of CPP-1 at higher concentrations 50, 100 and 150 mg/mL wasstudied at different pH upon short exposure to ATCC® 43504. At 50 mg/mL,a 3-log decrease of growth was observed in the pH 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0whereas the bacteria survived at pH 7.2 at such concentration (FIG. 3b). However, at higher doses of 100 and 150 mg/mL, the rate of killingwas found to increase as the pH of the media raised.

Experiment 9 Fluorescence Microscopic Evidence on the MorphologicalTransformation of H. pylori Upon Exposure to CPP-1

For the purpose of fluorescence staining, a bacterial smear wasprepared, fixed with methanol for 2 min, stained with 0.1% acridineorange solution for 2-3 min, rinsed thoroughly with distilled water(Haqqani, 2001) and observed under fluorescence microscopy using 1-3filter (emission wavelength 510 nm). The live organism appeared asorange color in the dark background and the non-viable cells as green(Shirai et al., 2000).

The morphological alterations of the clinical strain (HP001) exposed to3.125, 6.25 and 12.5 mg/mL of CPP-1 for 24 h as observed underfluorescence microscopy are shown in FIG. 4. As evident from panel A,the control cells appeared as spiral and rod shaped, orange in colourand huge in numbers at the end of 24-h culture. The cells upon 24-hexposure to lowest concentration of CPP-1, resembled almost like controlwith some deformation (Panel B). Exposure of the cells to higherconcentrations of 6.25 and 12.5 mg/mL for 24 h resulted in progressivelydeteriorating cell population leading to more of non-viable cells (greenfluorescence) and coccid formation (Panels C and D respectively).

Experiment 10 Electron Microscopic Evidence on the MorphologicalTransformation of H. pylori upon Exposure to CPP-1

The morphological alteration of H. pylori cells (ATCC® 43504) exposed tovarious concentrations of CPP-1 was further examined using transmissionelectron microscopy (Dai et al., 2005). After exposure to CPP-1 at 0,6.25 and 12.5 μg/mL for 24 h under microaerophilic conditions at 37° C.,cells were harvested by centrifugation, fixed with glutaraldehyde andpostfixed with osmium tetroxide. Samples were dehydrated, embedded inSPUR, sections cut and applied to copper grids. The grids werecontrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and the sections wereexamined on a transmission electron microscope.

The morphological alterations of H. pylori cells exposed to 6.25 μg/mL(B) and 12.5 μg/mL (C) of CPP-1 as compared with control (A) are evident(FIG. 5). Transmission electron micrographs demonstrated that CPP-1treatment induced swelling and vacuole like structures in the cytoplasmof H. pylori cells. The phenomenon was concentration dependent, andexposure to 6.25 or 12.5 μg/mL of CPP-1 transformed the shape and sizeof the organism from bacilliform to doughnut-shaped form. The rupture ofthe bacilli to coccoid form was evident to some extent, even atconcentration of 6.25 μg/mL (MIC dose). The bacterium lost its structureat higher concentrations (6.25-12.5 μg/mL) and the drug-induceddestruction was evident. Moreover, the outer envelop of an atypicalshaped organism was detached from the inner side of the bend.

Experiment 11 Effect of CPP-1 on Gastric H⁺,K⁺-ATPase Activity

The effect of CPP-1 on gastric H⁺K⁺-ATPase was investigated. Isolationof pig gastric mucosal membranes, rich in H⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity, wascarried out by density gradient centrifugation technique (Ray, 1978).The enzyme assay system contained 10 mM PIPES-Tris (pH 6.8), 2 mM eachof ATP and MgCl with or without 10 mM KCl and about 10 mg membraneprotein in a final volume of 1 mL. Both blank and experimental tubeswith or without CPP-1 at different concentrations were preincubated withotherwise complete assay mixture at 37° C. for 10 min before initiatingthe reaction with the substrate ATP. After appropriate time ofincubation with ATP at 37° C., the reaction was terminated with theaddition of 1 mL of ice-cold TCA (14%, w/v). The liberated inorganicphosphate (Pi) was estimated essentially by the method of Sanui (1974).K⁺-stimulated activity referred to as H⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity, wascalculated as the difference between the activity in presence of Mg²⁺plus K⁺ and the basal activity (Mg²⁺-ATPase) in presence of Mg²⁺ alone.The specific activity of H⁺,K⁺-ATPase was expressed as micromoles of Piliberated per hour per milligram protein. The data are averages of 3-4determinations each carried out in triplicate. The specific activity ofH⁺,K⁺-ATPase in control sets was in the range of 40-50 μmole Pi/mgprotein/h.

CPP-1 was found to inhibit gastric H⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity in vitro in adose dependent manner. About 50% inhibition was observed in theconcentration range of 10 mg/assay (Table 7). The standard medicineomeprazole, under similar experimental condition produced about 80%inhibition of such H⁺,K⁺-ATPase.

TABLE 7 Effect of CPP-1 on pig gastric H⁺, K⁺-ATPase activityConcentration Percent inhibition of Compound (mg/assay) H⁺, K⁺-ATPaseactivity CPP-1 1 20 5 30 10 50 Omeprazole 1 20 10 80

Experiment 12 Effect of CPP-1 on Basal and Histamine-Stimulated AcidSecretion in Gastric Parietal Cell

Parietal cells (PC) were isolated from New Zealand White rabbits(weighing ^(˜)2.5 kg) essentially according to Berglindh (1984) and asmodified by Mazzeo et al. (1988). The PC preparations were nearly 90%pure and viable. The effect of CPP-1 on basal and histamine stimulatedacid secretion in parietal cells was examined as follows. The PCsuspension was incubated for 10 min at 37° C. with gentle stirring andcontinuous slow top gassing with oxygen. The [¹⁴C]-aminopyrine (115mCi/mmole) was added to the suspension at 0.1 mCi/mL, and incubation wascontinued for another 10 min. One-milliliter aliquot of PC (^(˜)5×10⁶cells) was added to various concentrations of CPP-1 in the presence andthe absence of histamine (0.1 mM) and incubated for 20 min at 37° C.with slow shaking and oxygen top gassing. At the end of the incubation,the PC suspensions were centrifuged, supernatant carefully aspired offand the pellets solubilized in scintillation fluid containing TritonX-100. The resulting solution was counted in a liquid scintillationcounter. The aminopyrine accumulation was determined as the ratio ofintra- to extracellular aminopyrine according to Mazzeo et al. (1988).

The effect of varied concentrations of CPP-1 on basal acid secretion insuch freshly prepared parietal cells was examined. The basal acidsecretion was decreased in a dose dependent manner upon exposure toCPP-1 (FIG. 6a ). A 50% reduction in basal acid secretion was obtainedat about 5 μg/mL CPP-1. The compound appeared to be much more potentthan cimetidine, and about 2-3 fold less potent than omeprazole ininhibiting basal acid secretion in PC, indicating its efficacy inmanaging basal hyperacid secretion. The compound CPP-1 was furtherexamined for its effect on histamine stimulated (0.1 mM) acid secretion.It exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of histamine-stimulated acidsecretion (FIG. 6b ) with an IC₅₀ value of about 15 μg/mL. The compoundCPP-1 was found to be more active than cimetidine in inhibitinghistamine-stimulated secretion but about 5-fold less potent thanomeprazole. Thus, the compound CPP-1 was observed to be effective inblocking both basal and histamine stimulated acid secretion.

Experiment 13 Toxicity Evaluation for the Potent Compound CPP-1

The most potent compound CPP-1 was checked for mortality of the Swissalbino mice. Five animals of Swiss albino mice strain were used for thispurpose. The dosage up to 0.5 g/kg body weight given orally per mice andthe animals were kept for 15 days under observation. It was observedthat the mice were not affected at the dose level of 0.5 g/kg bodyweight of CPP-1. No mortality and behavioral abnormality was noted.

Advantages

-   -   The semisynthetic molecule CPP-1        [7-O-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyl)-chrysin], confirred with        bi-functional activity, can be prepared commercially starting        from chrysin and piperidine, abundantly present in various        plants (already published).    -   The compound is not toxic.    -   Peptic ulcer disease is a multietiologic disease. This designed        molecule is capable of acting simultaneously against the bug H.        pylori and the hypersecretion of gastric HCl, the two major        etiologies of peptic ulcer diseases.    -   Unlike currently available modern medicines which require triple        or quadruple therapy involving 1-2 antibiotics like        clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, one antisecretory        drug like H₂ receptor blocker or gastric H′ pump inhibitor and        one mucus coating agent, the molecule CPP-1 is-unique in the        sense that it is strong anti H. pylori and also gastric        antisecretory.    -   The most active compound CPP-1 appears to possess high        therapeutic potential as it is endowed with a 6 C lipophilic        spacer in its side chain which would make the compound membrane        permeable.    -   Unlike clarithromycin which is effective only at neutral pH in        eradicating H. pylori, the molecule CPP-1 is effective both at        acidic and neutral pH.    -   Unlike metronidazole towards which H. pylori develops resistance        upon long-term use, the chances of resistance development to        CPP-1 is minimal.    -   The most active compound CPP-1 is effective even against        metronidazole-resistant strains.

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Other Patent References

JP62145017 June, 1987 J P Nishino & Kobayashi JP11228407 August, 1999 JP Higuchi & Sato CN1615947 May, 2005 C N Zhang et al.

Advantages

-   -   The semisynthetic molecule CPP-1        [7-O-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyl)-chrysin], conferred with        bi-functional activity, can be prepared commercially starting        from chrysin and piperidine, abundantly present in various        plants (already published).    -   The compound is not toxic.    -   Peptic ulcer disease is a multietiologic disease. This designed        molecule is capable of acting simultaneously against the bug H.        pylori and the hypersecretion of gastric HCl, the two major        etiologies of peptic ulcer diseases.    -   Unlike currently available modern medicines which require triple        or quadruple therapy involving 1-2 antibiotics like        clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, one antisecretory        drug like H₂ receptor blocker or gastric H⁺ pump inhibitor and        one mucus coating agent, the molecule CPP-1 is unique in the        sense that it is strong anti H. pylori and also gastric        antisecretory.    -   The most active compound CPP-1 appears to possess high        therapeutic potential as it is endowed with a 6 C lipophilic        spacer in its side chain which would make the compound membrane        permeable.    -   Unlike clarithromycin which is effective only at neutral pH in        eradicating H. pylori, the molecule CPP-1 is effective both at        acidic and neutral pH.    -   Unlike metronidazole towards which H. pylori develops resistance        upon long-term use, the chances of resistance development to        CPP-1 is minimal.    -   The most active compound CPP-1 is effective even against        metronidazole-resistant strains.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising apharmaceutically effective amount of5-Hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-piperidin-1-yl-hexyloxy)-chromen-4-one (CPP-1);and/or5-Hydroxy-7-[(6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-hexyloxy]-2-phenyl-chromen-4-one(NMC-1) and/or5-Hydroxy-2-phenyl-7-(6-morpholin-4-yl-hexyloxy)-chromen-4-one (CHM-1)and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, additives,lubricants and diluents, wherein a ratio of the compound to thecarriers, additives, lubricants and diluents ranges from 1-10:10-1 w/w,for treating Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric hypersecretion ina subject.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the one or morepharmaceutically acceptable carriers used are selected from the groupconsisting of proteins, carbohydrates, sugar, magnesium stearate,cellulose, calcium carbonate, starch-gelatin paste and pharmaceuticallyacceptable excipients, diluents and solvents.
 3. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the composition is administered in a human at a doseranging between 20-60 mg twice per day.
 4. The composition of claim 1,wherein the composition is used for treating or preventing Helicobacterpylori infection and gastric hypersecretion leading to management ofpeptic ulcer diseases, which include one or more of the followingdisorders: gastric peptic ulcer, duodenal peptic ulcer, chronic andacute gastritis, chronic and acute duodenitis, non-ulcer dyspepsia,gastro esophageal reflux disorders, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissuelymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma.